Advertising

Water Wise Finalists

We are very pleased to present this gallery dedicated to our talented top finalists in our Water Wise competition, sponsored by Kohler. All the creative solutions made for a very difficult decision! Thanks to all that contributed, and here's to a water-wise future!

Aquality
Submitted by Timothy Daw and Jake Bjeldanes, Industrial Designers
Description: water tracking system that syncs to computers to tell consumers how much water they use
Designers’ statement:
‘The Aquality water tracking system is a measurement tool identifying all of your household water consumption. The three part system helps you track your water use, identify areas of waste and suggest methods of conservation.
The Aquality system consists of three components: the flowmeter, the base station & your home computer or smartphone. The standard sized flowmeter ring with adapters is installed at every water terminal in your house. It uses a turbine to both assess the amount of water passing through and to gather power to transmit the signal wirelessly to the base station. The base station is easily mounted in an accessible common area, such as on the refrigerator door, so that users can access the compiled data in graphical and numerical displays. And lastly, the Aquality system includes software for your personal computer in order to organize and calibrate your water conservation system.
Aquality addresses the problem of intending to conserve water without any feedback by providing hard data about all of the water consumed in your household. By tracking usage, consumers are able to understand better where water is being used and what techniques are working to conserve water.”

Aquantify II
Submitted by: Jake Bjeldanes and Tim Daw, Industrial Designers
Description: a shower head that meters how much water the user consumes
Designer’s Statement:
“How much water do you use to take a shower? Most people don’t know that answer. They’re too busy planning the day ahead to think about water conservation. The Aquantify shower head takes out the guesswork, displaying the exact volume of water used on its easy-to-read dial. It encourages daily conservation by reminding users of their own personal footprints.
With no batteries to die or electronics to fail in a wet environment, the Aquantify is designed to last. There are no complex systems to learn. It’s as easy to read as a clock.
The volume of water used is displayed at the tip of the water drop symbol on the face.
When the water starts to flow, a simple water turbine inside the Aquantify begins to spin and engages a clutch. A shaft beyond that clutch drives a series of three gears to turn the numerical dial. The spinning dial tensions a return spring that spins the dial back to zero when the water is turned off and the clutch disengages.
The Aquantify doesn’t just count the water flowing past, it also delivers it in three different ways. First the outer ring nozzles emit a fine, high-pressure spray. The inner ring emits a soft aerated spray. The last emitter is at the center of the drop symbol. It’s a fogger that envelops the user in a blanketing fog of warm mist.”

Waterfarm Bathroom System
Submitted by Joao Goncalves, Industrial Designer
Description: a steam harvesting system
Designer’s statement:
Nowadays, about two-thirds of the water we spend at home is used in the bathroom. The Waterfarm Bathroom System isn’t about reducing the water you spend… instead it goes to the core of the issue and allows you to produce the water you spend, and therefore saving the world’s water resources! It consists in bathroom equipment - toilet, bathtub and washstand – capable of gathering and filtering the humidity in the room, and then condensing into water; this water is then filtered again, and goes to container(s) from where water is taken as it’s needed. You can re-use the water you waste, because it also goes to microfiltration and UV filters, but contaminated water and chemicals will go to plumbing system and sewage. Consequently, it also acts as a dehumidifier preventing damp walls and ceiling. This system would be connected to electricity, and perhaps in the future we’ll see all buildings solar-powered and with this system built-in –each building would be self-sufficient producing it’s own water and electricity!

The Shower Ring and the Bath Module
Submitted by: Claudia Skylar, Designer
Description: a modular shower unit that dispenses cleanser and water from a ring that moves up and down around the users body
“There has been significant progress in the areas of water saving plumbing fixtures; however that still doesn’t stop people from taking long showers. There are a few different approaches to the problem. The first is that usually it is necessary to get warm and toasty before lathering up.
I propose that research should be done with soaps that can either be put on like moisturizer before the shower, or dispensed from all directions in the shower—this soap should be engineered to be instantly cleansing as it is washed off. Second, the shower usually comes from only one direction, and also makes sudsing up difficult—body sprays are also problematic since they can waste water. I am proposing a ring that moves around your body, up and down only a few times. It could dispense the cleanser first (or the special lotion can be put on prior to the shower)—then when the water comes on at a fairly high and invigorating velocity—and at a preprogrammed instantly hot temperature—very little water is required.
Essentially it is a sensuous car wash for humans! My shower cubicle has been purposely made fairly small, and it has no or very little glass so that it stays warm. I have designed a modular system with wood and tile (a mylar infused tile to use ones’ body heat) that also can be used to design closets, dressing tables, closets in various configurations.”

Presa
Submitted by Jorge Luis Robles Dobler, Designer
Description: a device that regulates how much water comes out of a faucet
Designer’s Statement:
“Sometimes we are not aware of the big waste of water we generate when we open the faucet keys too much by our customs or being in a hurry.
As designers we have the obligation to create products that protect the environment and it resources in order to enjoy it now and in the future.
Presa is a small economic accessory, easy to use, manufacture and recycle, it joints in the faucet to avoid the unnecessary water waste we generate by neglect or bad behavior.
Pesa is an object easy to use, that prevents the passage of large amounts of water quickly, also; it interacts with the user automatically, in this way can generate a custom moderating behavior. “

Flower
Submitted by Phitak Khotdok, Designer
Description: shower system that dispenses a pre-determined amount of water
Designer’s statement:
“Flower is a shower that will be used to help save more water and there will be a dirty sensor body. Program will calculate the water usage to automatically in order to adjust the shower head, then it will adjust to fit the body water distribution. In case a user is using too much water into the system adjusts the water temperature at hand to stimulate the water faster. It also has water filtration system to bring water back to the new one. Flower has three shower head for the family to shower together and make them build good relationships with their family, in addition to saving water in the water together usage.”

Rainwater and Solar Power Harvesting System
Submitted by: Jorge Arias, Architect
Description: a water-centric house that collects rainwater and displays it as an entertainment / decorative element inside the home; the roof does double duty by having solar panels
“The proposed system saves all the rainwater and solar power received on the roof, and incorporates water as an architectural design feature inside the house. “Seeing” how much water we are saving will help us to be more conscientious about maintaining a rational balance in our daily water use.
The proposed system has three main elements: a catchment area roof equipped with solar panels, a transparent storage tank displayed in the center of the house and protected with an anti-evaporation membrane; and a water distribution sub-system consisting of pumps, filters, and exposed pipes.
Data
-According to the USGS calculation software, a family of 4 members consumes around 110,000 gallons of water per year inside the household.
-A square foot of roof collects 0.6 gallons per inch of rainwater. With 40 inches of rain per year, a typical 2500 SF house with a 3,000 SF roof could collect 72,000 gallons of rainwater per year, which is 65% of the household water use.
-According to the USEIA, the average American family electricity consumption is 920 kWh per month. That power can be produced by installing 76 solar panels of 125 watts on the roof, which would take around 900 SF.”

CONSERVatory
Submitted by Ollin Trujillo
Description: a compact, modular greywater system
Designer’s statement:
CONSERvatory Compact Modular Accessible Grey-Water Lavatory System
A few years ago, we replaced our old water heater with a tankless unit, and have been very satisfied ever since. Our bill was significantly lowered, and there is always enough hot water when needed. One morning, while washing my face, I noticed it took about 20 to 30 seconds for the water to warm up. That’s about a gallon of clean water wasted!
The water used for washing hands or brushing teeth is still relatively clean, and should be reused whenever possible. CONSERvatory helps to conserve this wasted water and redirect it to the toilet tank where it can be stored and reused for flushing. I designed this compact, modular grey- water lavatory system based on the space efficiency found in train/airplane bathrooms. I based the dimensions on the “ADA Design Guide for Accessible Cells in Correctional Facilities”, so this project can have commercial as well as residential accessible applications by the addition of handrails.
Included are: sink, toilet/tank, integral waste bin, drawer and storage compartment, mirror and energy efficient LED/fluorescent vanity light fixture. 4 way flush actuator, using grey water or municipal water, and comfort height toilet seat.

Circe Series
Submitted by George Sacaris
Description: self-contained greywater units that continually cycle water
Designer’s statement:
In Greek mythology Circe is a minor goddess of magic who transformed her adversaries into pigs. In the case of this design her mission is to transform all that come into her gaze into 'Bath Hogs'... responsible 'Bath Hogs' at least. My idea is to create a totally self contained bathtub/ sink unit and a shower/ sink unit that are capable of collecting, purifying, re-heating, and re-using the same water over and over. I see the overall materials as being cast porcelain and removable mirror panels covering the equipment. Within the thickness of the vertical element would be contained an instantaneous water heater and an instantaneous filtering system. Gray water would be pre-filtered and stored in tanks under the floor. These fixtures conserve water without guilt or sacrifice... a 'Bath Hogs' dream.

WaterWatcher
Submitted by: Jeremy Levine, Architect
Description: a monitoring tool that publicly displays how much water a household uses, thereby using “peer pressure” to curtail consumption
Designer’s Statement:
“The WaterWatcher is a is a publicly visible water meter with a glowing face that changes color based on the amount of water use for the house. The hands of the WaterWatcher rotate, ticking off water use by gallon increments.
Smart metering is an effective way of reducing water consumption by raising awareness. But becoming aware of something is not always enough to change behavior. However, by making our individual water use public, the WaterWatcher encourages conservation. Social Engineering through peer pressure.
“People don’t just want to conserve energy,” says Arizona State University psychologist Robert B. Cialdini, “they want to be acknowledged for conserving energy. The same thing applies to water conservation. “

Know Your Usage
Submitted by: J Michael Kilpatrick
Description: a water monitoring device that tracks an individual’s own use
Designer’s Statement:
“Sometimes, to conserve water, one just needs to know how much they use. Immediate information allows them to make more concise judgment of their water usage and encourages them to Just Turn It Off. This proposed system allows individuals to know their water consumption as they use it. It is composed of a key pad connected to electric water valves at every water faucet. These components are tied into a computer with a program that records the hot and cold water used.
The Way it Works
1) Each user has an assigned number and they key in their number whenever the need to turn on the water.
2) The user keys in their number triggering the water valves to open and count the flow of water. Individual valves occur at the hot and cold pipes with the idea that hot waters requires more energy thus encouraging less use of hot water.
3) The amount of water displays at the key pad in real time.
4) Upon turning off the water, the user hits enter, the valves close, and the computer program records the information.
5) From the computer program, one makes reports comparing and contrasting the water consumption of each individual.
If this is not enough to curb water consumption, the computer program can assigned daily, weekly, monthly, or etc. limits to each individual. Upon reaching that limit, the valves will no longer will open and the use will need to lead his case to get more water. This method might suit a big household, dorm, fraternity / sorority, or the like.”

Aquality
Submitted by Timothy Daw and Jake Bjeldanes, Industrial Designers
Description: water tracking system that syncs to computers to tell consumers how much water they use
Designers’ statement:
‘The Aquality water tracking system is a measurement tool identifying all of your household water consumption. The three part system helps you track your water use, identify areas of waste and suggest methods of conservation.
The Aquality system consists of three components: the flowmeter, the base station & your home computer or smartphone. The standard sized flowmeter ring with adapters is installed at every water terminal in your house. It uses a turbine to both assess the amount of water passing through and to gather power to transmit the signal wirelessly to the base station. The base station is easily mounted in an accessible common area, such as on the refrigerator door, so that users can access the compiled data in graphical and numerical displays. And lastly, the Aquality system includes software for your personal computer in order to organize and calibrate your water conservation system.
Aquality addresses the problem of intending to conserve water without any feedback by providing hard data about all of the water consumed in your household. By tracking usage, consumers are able to understand better where water is being used and what techniques are working to conserve water.”